French mayor bans SPITTING in public in bid to curb coronavirus spread

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Bernard Gérard, the mayor of Marcq-en-Baroeul, a northern French town on the outskirts of Lille, said the stricter hygiene measures were needed during the coronavirus lockdown after local authorities received complaints of unsanitary conditions. M Gérard said in a statement “Spitting in the street is now banned and people must abide by the preventive measures in place, such as covering coughs and sneezes.”

He then warned used masks, gloves and protective suits “have to be thrown away” and not just dumped on the street.

The fine will be increased to €180 (£158.60) in the event of late payment, the mayor added.

The announcement came shortly after French authorities tightened lockdown measures in the capital by banning people from exercising outdoors between 10am and 7pm local time.

Local officials decided to ban daytime jogging to stop Parisians from bending anti-coronavirus lockdown rules and contain the outbreak.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and police chief Didier Lallement said in a statement: “Every excursion avoided aids the fight against the epidemic.”

The move came after many politicians and doctors voiced alarm at the fact that the streets of Paris were still teeming with joggers and shoppers despite the government’s strict stay-at-home orders.

France confined residents to their homes on March 17 to stem the spread of the flu-like virus.

The drastic measures have been extended until April 15 and are likely to be extended again.
Under the nationwide lockdown, people can leave home only for essential purposes, which include shopping for food, seeking medical care, or a solo walk or run within a one-kilometre radius of home.